Computerworld - One day after Google Inc. started selling unlocked Android-based Nexus One smartphones for AT&T's network for the full price for $529, Sprint Nextel announced that it plans to offer the device for what an executive called a "simple" pricing scheme that will be explained later.
Google Inc. began selling the Nexus One device for the T-Mobile USA network in its Google Web store on Jan. 5. The T-Mobile USA version -- and a two-year contract -- are priced at $179.
Sprint and Google could conceivably use a pricing scheme similar to the T-Mobile deal, which Sprint suggested in its announcement today.
Fared Adib, vice president of product development at Sprint, said in a statement that while a Nexus One pricing plan has not been determined, "we are confident that it will be consistent with Sprint's commitment to deliver more value than our competitors and keep pricing simple."
Further, Adib referenced Sprint's Any Mobile, Anytime plan that costs $70 a month for unlimited text, data and voice. That two-year plan could be applied to an unlocked Nexus One, similar to AT&T's process of offering wireless service for an unlocked Nexus One.
Sprint did not disclose when the Nexus One would be ready for its network. It would only say that it will disclose a delivery date soon.
In a related matter, Google recently lost its bid to own the Nexus One name for the Android 2.1 smartphone after a review by the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office rejected Google's trademark application.
The Patent office wrote in a March 9 ruling that the trademark application was rejected because granting it would have created confusion with a similar trademark held by Integra Telecom for a Nexus fixed-bandwidth integrated voice and Internet T1 product.
Google could contest the ruling, pay Integra for the right to use the name or change the Nexus One name.
Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at 
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. His e-mail address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.
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